After months of joking about the CBS show Tracker, Stephen Colbert may have finally learned to say the title with respect. In a bit of CBS synergy, Tracker star Justin Hartley made a surprise appearance on The Late Show on Thursday to help Colbert recover one of his most crucial tools: his coffee mug.
CBS has put a lot of emphasis on the new Hartley-fronted action-drama, giving it the coveted post-Super Bowl slot for its series premiere earlier this year. Colbert aired a special new episode of The Late Show that same night, in which he shouted out the series.
“It is Super Bowl night, baby! This is the night where all Americans gather in front of the TV like one extended family—to watch the premiere of Tracker,” he joked.
Colbert has maintained a consistent dedication to mentioning Tracker during his monologues since then, regularly finding ways to talk about the show or use it as a punchline. Colbert’s jokes are accompanied by lower-third graphics advertising the series, complete with a different (totally made-up) tagline each time.
Colbert made another joke about the series in a desk piece earlier this week, which found him introducing a series of “Latinized” TV shows that included El Tracker. (“He will find dónde está la biblioteca,” the tagline read.)
Hartley presumably appreciated the repeated shoutouts, because he showed up on The Late Show last night. (Hartley last guested on the show back in February, ahead of Tracker’s premiere.)
Launching into a fake segment about CBS’ fall lineup, Colbert staged a pesky cough that led to him (quite convincingly) pausing the show and wondering why his mug wasn’t in its usual spot beside him.
“What am I doing? I work at CBS. I know someone who can find anything,” Colbert told viewers. He then ran backstage, cutting to a pre-taped bit in which he and Hartley attempt to track down the mug thief in The Late Show offices.
The bit culminated in a live payoff, with Colbert and Hartley running out into the Ed Sullivan Theater and chasing the mug thief through the audience. The duo even managed to throw in some references to another former CBS stalwart, CSI: Miami.
